Chapter 27

Year 2 Month 10 Day 1

With Karel creating the new order of the legendary swordsmen, he has been trying to figure out a way to force Salem to reveal them. Yatsuhashi was one of the members in this new order.

Yatsuhashi walked with Velvet to an open area. Karel had somehow gotten Salem to use one of her fighters. He had yet to describe it.

"Are you ready for a fight?" Yatsuhashi asked Velvet.

"Yeah, after everything you told me, I've gotten ready." She said.

They met up with Karel.

"Sorry, I just tried to get Salem to budge, but she ignored me."

"I thought you had this figured out." Yatsuhashi said

"I thought I did to, but I guess she was just trying to make me move first. She tricked us."

Karel held a little bottle in his hand.

"What is that?" Velvet asked.

"This is water from the pool of light. The opposite to the pool of darkness that Salem has control of."

"So you think that has the power to bring her out?" Yatsuhashi asked.

"When used it the last few times it worked. I don't understand why it isn't working now." Karel said. He looked at the bottle, and put it away.

"Is there another way to force her out in the open?" Velvet asked.

"There is… but it isn't worth it."

Yatsuhashi continued looking at him.

"What is it?"

"I'd have to use one of the siren's orbs, and I will never do that." Karel touched the necklace he was wearing.

"You better get back to Oscar. I'll be ready for the fight."

"You're right." Karel left.


Salem listened to everything. So they were trying to get her to summon some of her dead troops, but which ones. She needed more information if she was going to continue.

Salem opened a portal and sent out three random soldiers.

They turned around and Yatsuhashi quickly sliced two in half. Salem was curious with this one. She sent out a small bug to latch onto him while the final troop was slain. Yatsuhashi looked at Karel.

"I am a little disappointed that we didn't fight the Fate user." He said

"What do you want with him?" Salem asked. She brought up the user of fate to her side.

"Do you know why this man would want you dead?" she asked

"I don't know what he is. I would guess he's after my sword."

Salem kept that in mind.

"I may have you fight him. I would like to see how you would do." Salem said. She watched as the three hunters entered in a room off to the side in beacon. It was hidden from view. Salem wondered what this was all about.

Holograms started appearing around the table. Salem didn't care about most of them, but there was one who she did take a special interest in. She noticed the youngest one had an aura around him.

"Back already?" Phyrra said.

"We didn't fight the fate user. Salem sent three random troops. We took care of them easily" Yatsuhashi said

"More like you took care of them. I didn't even have time to get my weapon ready." Velvet said

Salem wondered how long it would take them to say what she wants to hear

"We failed to get the Fate user, but we did get her to send troops. We just need her to send the Fate user." Karel said, walking behind Yatsuhashi.

"We all know why." Weiss' hologram said

"But Weiss, the future wielder of Silence, we need to find a way for our enemy to send her best troops to fight us."

"The fight has yet to happen. Don't seem so confident on our victory. Remember the Fate user almost killed Oobleck." Fox's hologram said. All members of team CFVY, JNPR, and RWBY joined.

"But, I think I figured out a way for us to get the fight that we want."

"What is it?" Yatsuhashi asked

Salem smiled. He was a fool.

Karel picked up the bug that Salem placed on Yatsuhashi.

"Salem… I know you can hear us. Consider this a direct challenge. Yatsuhashi verses the user of Fate." Karel said, looking directly into the face of the bug

"He is either brave or stupid." She said

She used her power to speak through the bug

"Alright, jedi. I accept your challenge. In three days, in the emerald forest, we shall see who is stronger."

Karel crushed the bug.


Everyone looked at him.

"How did you know?"

"I felt it in the water of Ashla. It pointed out the bug to me. Now we have an idea of what's about to happen."

"That was risky." Bora said.

"I know… but I had to take a risk to get her to do what we want. Oscar, I think we'll all need some of this." Karel lifted up his bottle.

"I can make them stone, and we can make them into rings, or necklaces."

"Hey, I know a place where we can get them jeweled." Coco said.

"Next meeting, well figure start spreading those out. Since Yatsuhashi is going to fight his opponent first, I'll give him my bottle." Karel handed the bottle over.

"With that, I think this ends the meeting… so while we still have some time, any announcements?" Oscar asked

Nora jumped up, holding Ren's hand

"We're getting married."

Everyone gave them their congratulations. The members left shortly after Bora stayed behind to wait for Karel.

"Hey, what is it?" Karel asked.

"I've got something to tell you." Bora said

"What is it?"

"Not here, back at home." She said

Karel gave her a look, but he listened to his wife. They went back to their home.


"Okay Bora, what is it?" He said, taking off his coat

"How do you feel about having children?" She asked a bit shy

"I'd love to be a father. Why do you ask?"

"Just wanted to know. Now I've got a surprise for you." She said. She went to another room to get something.

"There isn't much left to surprise me. Really the only thing left to surprise me would be you saying that you're pregnant." Karel said picking up the grandmaster's journal.

Bora came back in the room. Karel looked at her. Her face was red.

"Surprise" she showed Karel a positive pregnancy test.

Karel put down the journal, and looked at Bora, eyes wide, face turning into a smile. He hugged Bora.

"I've got to say, this is a surprise."

"But… this complicates things." Bora said

"Hey, this is a happy moment. The happiest since we got married."

"But… I can't fight."

"That is true… we've got to do a lot. And I'm going to need a second in command." Karel said. He and Bora sat down. Bora laid her head on his shoulder. "But that doesn't matter now."


Month 10 Day 2

Yatsuhashi worried about the fight that loomed over his head.

"Can I defeat him?" He asked Velvet

"Who?" She asked.

"Fate"

"You mean the concept or the swordsman?"

"Swordsman."

"Good, because it'll be a lot easier to take him down than the concept."

"This isn't a joke." Yatsuhashi said

"Sorry, you just looked like you needed someone to make a couple of jokes." Velvet said

"I don't need anyone's pity if that's what you think."

"That's the opposite of what I said. Come on, you don't need to be serious all the time." Velvet said as they got to their destination. Coco's favorite café.

"Finally got here I see." Coco said

"I don't." Fox mumbled to himself.

Coco elbowed Fox.

"I heard that." She said as she took a sip of her coffee.

"So, we know that we're going to the emerald forest, but not exactly where." Fox said

"I think I may have an idea. Remember, the year below us had to take on those Grimm. They were larger than the regular variety. Maybe the residue of the Grimm is still there. Maybe that's where it will happen." Velvet said

"But we already four classes come through since then. There's no way that the residue will still be there." Coco said.

"But… ever since our year, the Grimm has been getting larger. Just look at Team SNOW. They took out that Tiger…" Fox started

"That may just be it. The Grimm are being attracted to something in the forest." Coco said

"So, if we just go back to the temple, we may be able to get ready for this fight." Yatsuhashi said

"We can do this together." Velvet said.

"Can I finish my idea?" Fox asked

"What?" Velvet asked him.

"We can't determine if we'll be alone. Salem isn't exactly trustworthy."

"So well just get Karel to lend us a few squads." Coco said

"You think he can just do that?" Fox asked

"Well, he is the commander of a legion, so I don't see why not."

"This isn't going to be easy you know."

A woman walked past the group. When she turned the corner she smiled. There was nothing notable about her.

"When's this happening?" She asked herself.

"We have three days to get our strategy down." Coco said.

The woman out on her mask and disappeared.


Month 10 Day 2

Ninth took her seat next. Eighth, fourth, and thirteenth were there.

Ninth was wearing her mask, with an ancient character for assassin written in blood on her mask. She had many daggers on her belt. Her hair was short, and blonde.

"What is it ninth?"

Ninth took off her mask. She pressed a button on her wrist, and out of her left eye came a hologram.

"Yesterday, I found one of the people who have challenged our Patron. Yatsuhashi is his name, and this is his team. Three hunters, recently graduated. They are going to fight the Fate user in two days. What do you think we should do?"

"I think fourth would be enough." Eighth said.

"Why not tell our Patron eighth? We should tell her…" Echo started

"She knows. She was the one who started this fight." Mercury, who was eighth, said

"So, are we to going to fight them?" Jet asked.

"We will Ninth, or you will." Echo said

Ninth put her mask back on.

"I'm ready." Ninth got ready for her fight.

Ninth left the cave and the three assassins were left.

"Do you plan on taking ninth's place eighth?" Echo asked.

"Only if ninth gets herself killed." Mercury said

"Do you think she'll die?" Jet asked.

"Not really, but if she can't handle a few hunters, she'll have no reason to be here." Mercury said offhandedly.

"Don't act so high and mighty eighth just because you are our Patron's voice." Echo said

"I earned this spot." Mercury said defensively.

"By killing your father, we know." Echo said.

"Are you mocking me?" Mercury said.

"Are you challenging me?" Mercury couldn't see Echo's hands.

"No… just reminding you that I have earned my place here." Mercury put his hands up.

"Apology accepted." Echo showed his hands. Jet calmed down. Echo left the cave.

"You may wonder why I stepped away." Mercury said

"Not really."

"Well I'll tell you anyway, the gap between him and me is a hundred times that as between us."

"And you would die if you fought him?" Jet asked.

"Yeah. Right now, he's too strong. Just like I'm too strong for you." Mercury walked away.

Jet decided that she needed to train more.


Month 10 Day 4

Team CFVY and five squads from the 122nd legion arrived in the emerald forest. Karel and Rouge went in secret.

Yatsuhashi was at the sight where they fought the Grimm during their first trial.

"It's now or never." Coco said.

Yatsuhashi raised his hand to the sky with the bottle in it. He poured a drop out on the ground, and three people came out of a portal. Two lance wielders, and the Fate user.

"You are the one who challenged me?" The Fate user asked. He seemed to be uninterested

"Yes, I am." Yatsuhashi said confidently.

"But you brought back up." The Fate user remarked offhandedly

"So did you." Yatsuhashi glared

"So I did." The fate user pulled out his blade.


Ninth jumped down, pulling out two daggers. The men of the 122nd came out. Grimm came out of the forest.

"Looks like this will be a battle."

Rouge looked at Karel.

"Not yet…" He said.

"Found you." Karel was pushed out of his hiding spot. When he landed, he saw one of Salem's Sith. Rouge jumped out of the tree and backed her master up.

"Salem was expecting us." Karel said

"You did announce yourself to her." Velvet said.

"We'll hold the Sith off while you guys take on the Black Fang." Karel said

"Got it."

"Men, hold off the Grimm."

"Alright"

Karel turned on his lightsaber.

"Be careful Rouge." Karel said.

"I will."


The two lancers that came with the Fate user jumped towards Yatsuhashi. They jumped over him and started attacking Fox and Coco. The Fate user slammed the ground. Velvet was about to jump in to help Yatsuhashi when Ninth knocked her away.

"We need a fair fight." Ninth said.

Velvet spun around and kicked Ninth in the mask. Velvet jumped back, clenching her teeth.

"What's that made off?" She asked.

"Something strong."

Yatsuhashi and the Fate user circled each other.

"I've read about you. You inspired me." Yatsuhashi said.

"Well, let's hope that doesn't stop you." Fate rushed forward. Yatsuhashi blocked the attack. He pushed the blade up and started the swing that would have slammed Fate into the flame.

The Fate user negated Yatsuhashi's semblance with his own semblance.

"What?" Yatsuhashi asked.

Fate kicked Yatsuhashi across the ring of fire.

"My semblance cancels out any other semblance. Fate needs a truly fair fight to be passed on."

Yatsuhashi got back up on one knee.

"So this fight will only use skill."

"That's what it always comes down to."


Velvet jumped back and used her weapon to summon a sword.

"Good enough." She said. She dashed forward and started to swing at Ninth. Ninth blocked the attack with her daggers in an X shape. She pushed the sword away and connected the two daggers. She threw the daggers in the air and it turned into electric pike. She pulled out another dagger.

"All that to make another weapon." Velvet said. The sword disappeared. She got a mace. "Great." She mumbled to herself.

Velvet rushed forward, and tried to bash the dagger out of Ninth's hand, but the electric pike knocked the mace away. If the made was real, then she would have had a shock through her system.

"Light based weapons then." Ninth said. She detached the two daggers and took out four smoke bombs. She threw one of them at Velvet. The weapon changed to a bow. Velvet jumped back and fired three arrows. Ninth jumped back.

"So I've got to do a little more work to do." She said.


Karel blocked the hit from the lightsaber. He jumped backwards and sent a force push towards the sith. Rouge jumped up behind Karel and went to fight the sith. She just got pushed back. Karel caught her.

"You need to be more careful." Karel said.

"I will." She said. The Sith rushed towards them. Karel got ready to block the attack when the Sith slammed into the ground. Vuren jumped down.

"You didn't think I wouldn't notice a fight like this did you?"

"Kind of." Karel said.

The Sith got up and looked at the three jedi. He was about to run when he stopped.

"But, I can't take three on." He said out loud.

Vuren jumped next to Karel.

"What's happening?" Vuren asked

"I don't know" Karel said

"Should we be talking in the middle of a battle?" Rouge asked.


Coco had to move farther back than she liked. She hadn't even been able to get her weapon out. The Lancer was stronger than Coco thought he would be. She blocked a lance coming towards her with her weapon. The Lance bounced off her box. It would give her just enough time to take out her weapon. She did just that, and when the lancer got back from being staggered, he saw Coco's weapon on his stomach. He made a last strike, but Coco moved her head. The lancer cut off a strand of hair.

"Die!" She shouted. She started firing, and in a few seconds, the stomach of the lancer was gone. He fell to the ground, the black aura coming off of him.

"Finally." He said as he faded from the mortal plane.

Coco looked around her and knew her fight wasn't done yet. She was facing down an army of Grimm. She had a flashback to the failed mission. She clenched her teeth and started to open fire yelling as she did so.

Fox pushed the lancer off him. The lancer was aggressive. She almost landed a hit on him. He used his weapons to grip her weapon.

"My partner should have killed yours by now."

Fox didn't say anything. The Lancer pushed the lance closer to him. It was touching his cheek. The lancer make a small cut on his cheek. He had to finish this fight. He made an X motion with his arms, cutting the lance in two. The Lancer was falling towards him. He quickly moved his head up. He head-butted her nose. He threw her off and slashed upwards towards her right eye.

She held her eye with one hand and glared at Fox.

"Don't think you've got this one." She used the rest of her lance to try to hit Fox, but he cut it down every time she went to attack. With the last of her lance, she made sure it got stuck in Fox's weapon. Fox looked at her, but she was going to punch him, or so Fox thought.

When the fist was coming towards him, a hidden dagger came out from her wrist. Fox's eyes widened as he was stabbed in the shoulder. The Lancer was about to slice Fox's throat when the lancer's fingers were blast off. Then the hand was shot.

"Get away from him!" Coco said. The bullets moved up to the body. The lancer fell to the ground. Coco ran up to Fox and saw the blood coming out of his side. She started to freak out and grip the wound. She felt the blood leaving his body. Flashbacks flooded her mind. The once calm demeanor was gone.

"Don't go. Not again"

Fox pushed her off, and he slashed the chest of the lancer deep. The lancer got up in an attempt to kill Coco. She dropped her second hidden dagger, and fell to the ground. The dust came off the lancer, and the body was gone, with the black ooze coming out of the area.

Fox clenched his teeth, and fell to the ground, unconscious. Blood covered his shirt, and a small patch of grass.

"Medic!" Coco yelled with blood on her hands. She turned her hands over looked at Fox's blood on her hands. Her eyes looked shell-shocked. "Not again."

A medic from the group arrived.

"We'll take care of him."


Vuren and Karel blocked the attack of the Sith while Rouge went in for an attack. The Sith kicked Rouge back into a tree. Karel heard a noise come from her.

"Did she just…?"

Rouge got up, and she glowed. The area became light around her, and she multiplied into six different versions of herself.

"She did. She just unlocked her semblance and aura." The Sith turned around and cursed.

Rouge looked at the clones and they all shook their heads.

They all jumped forward to strike at the Sith. He used the force to push the clones away. Two of them knocked into each other, and disappeared. Karel made a quick cut to the Sith's hand, and made a slight cut. The Sith turned around and made another series of strikes. He blocked them and watched as Rouge threw her lightsaber. The Sith was too focused on Karel to notice the lightsaber enter his chest. Karel pushed up and sliced the sith in half.

"Good job Rouge." Karel said.

Vuren force pushed a Lion Grimm that was about to pounce on Karel.

"Keep your eyes open" Vuren said


Yatsuhashi and Fate connected blades. They locked blades.

"The battles seem to be settling down around us." Fate said.

"But we're nowhere near done." Yatsuhashi pushed fate back and slammed the ground. Rocks came out of the ground, some of it hitting the roof of the arena.

"Thirty meters high." Yatsuhashi said.

The Fate user jumped on a rock, and turned it to face Yatsuhashi, then jumped off it. He rushed towards Yatsuhashi. He got out of the way, and felt the ground shake. Fate rushed again towards Yatsuhashi. He tried to block it, but hadn't gotten time to find good footing. He was flung into the fire wall. He felt the fire starting to burn his back. He flinched and fell to the ground for a moment.

"You're strong for someone so young." Fate said.

"You're strong for someone who's meant to be dead." Yatsuhashi said.

Yatsuhashi slammed his sword into the fire. His blade caught on fire. He swirled it back around.

"Come on then!"


Ninth got Velvet to separate from the rest of the alliance forces. They were jumping through the trees when ninth stopped at a spot.

Velvet stopped and looked at the surroundings. She realized that she was alone. She didn't like it. Ninth went behind her, and pushed her. Velvet fell into a series of ropes. She could barely move. She fell right for her trap. She cursed herself for being too focused on the target. The weapon in her hand disappeared. Velvet stopped another one from coming to not waste her weapons.

Ninth jumped up to Velvet, and took out a dagger. Ninth felt Velvet's ears. Velvet looked back and her eyes opened wide with shock. She tried everything to get Ninth off of her. Ninth laughed. She gripped onto Velvet's hair.

"I'd like to take a little something." Ninth said

Velvet started to shake, but Ninth didn't flinch. Ninth took out a dagger and a marker. She marked out a triangle and placed the dagger to her rabbit ear.

"Don't" Velvet tried one last time to shake her off, but Ninth stayed on. She started to cut, and blood fell down. Velvet screamed.

"Almost done." Ninth said. Velvet screeched out in pain.

Ninth moved the dagger down, and sliced upwards with the same result. Velvet activated her weapon, and got Vuren's lightsabers. She opened her eyes, and cut herself free. Ninth fell to the ground, and Velvet was about to plunge the blade into ninth, but she got up quickly.

"I'll kill you for that." Velvet said. She spoke the words through clenched teeth and pain. Ninth held the part of her ear she cut off and showed it to her. Velvet screamed and rushed forward.

Ninth threw down smoke grenades and ran off

Velvet held onto her ear. Her blood covered her hand. She got back up, and worked through the pain. She went back to towards the battlefield but collapsed as she got to the battlefield.


Yatsuhashi was running low on energy and aura. If this fight was going to last much longer, than he wouldn't make it. He slammed the ground and rocks came up again. He flung them towards Fate, then took out fire dust. As Fate blocked the boulders, the dust activated, and fireballs came flying at him. He jumped up right below where Yatsuhashi was. He slammed his sword down.

Fate went flying towards the ground. Yatsuhashi took out all of his dust and activated them. The dust combined into a beam of energy that slammed into Fate. When Yatsuhashi landed he went to the fate user.

The fate user jumped up and placed his hands on Yatsuhashi's head. Yatsuhashi screamed as images flashed in his head. He felt like he was absorbing something, and the body of the fate user dissipated.

"You are now the master of Fate." Yatsuhashi heard in his head. He fell to his knees and collapsed.


The Grimm were beaten back. The ring of fire around Yatsuhashi fell. Karel looked over to Yatsuhashi and saw him on the ground. He ran over and grabbed him. The Fate user was gone, but the sword was still here.

"We did it."

Vuren saw Velvet collapsed on the ground. She ran up to her, and brought her to the medics.

"Report" Karel said to one of his troops.

"We lost twelve troops sir."

"A fifth of our forces. What about team CFVY?"

"Only the leader is responsive right now."

Karel's head shot up.

"What happened to the others?"

"We don't know yet"

Karel cursed himself. This was all his fault. He pushed them to join.

Coco came up to him.

"I… want to know something."

"Yes?"

"What this worth it?" She asked

Karel closed his eyes.

"I have no confident answer yet, but I do believe it was."

Coco put her hand on Karel's shoulder. It was still wet with Blood. When she lifted her hand up Karel looked at it.

"This blood was from Fox." She turned around and walked away.


Month 10 Day 08

Karel gathered the new swordsmen minus team CFVY.

"We have beaten the first of the swordsmen, thought we paid a price. Fox and Velvet were greatly wounded, and Yatsuhashi has yet just woken up today. The effects of his victory are still being examined." Karel said

"So, we're one step closer." Ruby said

"Exactly." Bora said

"But it does give me pause. We almost lost our hunters. A sith was there for the fight, which Vuren, Rouge and I took on. Rouge unlocked her semblance and aura." Karel said.

"We may have to make sacrifices, but we were never expecting to not make them." Oscar said. "I know this may seem harsh, but we only lost twelve in that last fight. These swordsmen were able to stop an advancing army during the last war. They can kill thousands. Though we can't be focused on numbers, we can't lose sight that their sacrifices made it possible to save maybe thousands of lives."

"We aren't going to sacrifice people just to win." Yang said

"Sometimes we have to. It sucks I know, but this is war. Even this thing we are in a war. I wish there was a better way, but their isn't." Oscar said.

"I understand better than you know. We all do, but a life is important." Karel said.

"We all agree with that. But we can't run from a fight for fear of death." Oscar said. "I stand with you, I do. Just… when the last war came around, I was slow to go to battle and I lost almost everyone I loved."

"I think we all need to just calm down a moment. We're shaken, so that means we can't make any drastic moves here." Weiss said.

"Thank you Weiss." Phyrra said.

"So the question is… who's up next?" Jaune asked.

No one said anything.

"Well, the ball's on Salem's court now. And now that we have a solid victory against her… there's no saying when." Karel said.

Ruby raised her hand.

"Hey, um… we got the stones ready." Ruby said

"Oh, yeah, we did plan on that." Blake said.

"Well, we'll follow up with Coco, and hopefully have the rings and necklaces ready by next meeting." Karel said. Ruby took out a box, and handed a stone out to everyone in the room.

"Then… till next time." Oscar said.

"Actually… I do have an announcement." Bora said. She was blushing a little.

"What is it?" Oscar asked with a questioning look on her face.

"Well, I won't be able to fight for while… I'm pregnant." She said with a smile.

Nora coughed on her drink.

"Congratulations." Weiss said. She seemed the happiest in the room. Karel was confused by that. She looked like she was about to explode.

Everyone else congratulated Bora and Karel, then the meeting left. Weiss ran up to Bora.

"You seem happier to learn that I'm having a kid than I am." Bora said a bit nervously.

"Yeah, because I'll be an aunt." She said "I mean not by biology, but like you know, that doesn't matter. We've got so much work to do." She said

She wrapped her arm around Bora's and walked out of the building. Oscar walked up to Karel.

"I've lived for thousands of years, but that was new." Oscar said.

"Oscar… I do have a few questions for you."

"Of course, is this about Salem, being a dad, or something else?"

"I haven't been in class since the war started basically, so does that make me a drop out, or because of what I'm doing here, will I still graduate with the others?"

"Oh… school. Well this school is made to make highly skilled hunters, among other things… so if I was still the head master, I would let you graduate."

Karel grabbed his bag and took out a paper.

"This is the last thing I'll need to hand in, but I'm worried that I don't have enough credits. And I don't live on the campus anymore."

"I'd go to Goodwitch to see if you qualify." Oscar said

"One more thing. How will Salem react?"

Oscar sighed.

"Poorly. She hates losing almost as much as she hates me." Oscar ran his fingers through his hair. "And she'll be a bit reckless the next time she'll fight you. Be ready for her to send two swordsmen next time." Oscar warned.

Karel shook his head. He had an idea of which two she'll send, so he'll send out his two. Jaune and Phyrra were up next.

Author's Notes: Next one done. I'll give an explanation of what happened to Yatsuhashi in the next chapter.

It may have gotten a bit dark in this chapter, but you'll see later what happens.

Bora won't be fighting any time soon. But she's not done yet.

May the Force be With You

-DragonZlayerx12